Author 



L.C.- 

..U.Z.J.- 



Title 



Imprint 



16 — J7372-3 < 



OO-EDTJCATIOH" OF THE SEXES. 



A PAPEF^ 



BEAD BEFORE THE 



mm 



JUNE 10, 1874. 



BY THOMAS A. FOSTEK, M.D. 







. 



PORTLAND, ME: 
STEPHEN BEERY, PRINTER. 

1874. 



.or 



CO-EDUCATION OF THE SEXES. 






1 



No Physiologist or Hygienist, who has given the subject any 

nsideration, will pretend that oiy: present system of education 
perfect. None feel the importance of improvement in this 

rection more than teachers and physicians. The hygienic 
dition of our educational buildings are in many instances 

)st wretched. Children of both sexes are usually put to school 
t > young, and are also required to do too much in a given time. 
Either the standard of education is set too high for a large 
majority, or there is too little time given to reach it. The best 
interests of our children, both boys and girls, excludes the 
possibility of identical education carried to any great extent. 
Minds are not alike in children. They naturally incline in 
different directions, and need different training for their best 
good. To a certain extent, however, identical education may be 
quite profitably carried on. The real foundation of a good edu- 
cation is laid by acquiring a thorough knowledge of one's own 
language. This, as well as the rudiments of the more useful 
sciences, can be very properly taught to both sexes in the same 
manner. But as advancement is made in the various branches 
of education, the identical mode of instruction becomes objection- 
able, both to males and females. 

It has been said by recent writers, and I will not deny the 
truth of the assertion, that our girls suffer more from our present 
form of co-education than our boys, and the question very properly 
arises, "Why is this the case? Until of late, it has been thought 



by most persons, that the mode of life out of school, and the 
most miserable fashions of dress, were quite sufficient to answer 
this question. Recently, however, a new cause, that of sexual 
peculiarities, has been given. Identical co-education has been 
strongly opposed, upon the ground of a great physiological differ- 
ence said to exist between boy and girl, man and woman. To 
this point especially do I call attention at this time. 

As Prof. E. II. Clark, in his " Sex in Education," has taken the 
initiatory step in this direction, a review of that book will perhaps 
be our most direct way of getting at facts. 

In a literary society the following question was asked : " What 
hoes history tell us about the injurious effects of wine-drinking 
in the old countries ? " A gentleman of extensive reading and 
great literary attainments promptly answered, "That depends 
upon the historian." Just so is it in regard to other matters. 
The opinions of writers and speakers are greatly influenced by 
circumstances. Hence it becomes of much importance, when we 
wish to weigh the argument of any one, to know from what stand- 
point he speaks or writes. 

Science, falsely so called, pretends to occupy a sort of conse- 
crated temple, where faith takes the place of knowledge, authority 
imprisons reason, and bigotry demands implicit obedience. 

But true science acknowledges no ground too sacred to tread 
upon. Through its influence, reason supersedes superstition, 
actual knowledge a blind faith, and freedom of thought dethrones 
bigotry. 

Preformed opinions, based upon or springing from financial or 
other interests, not unfrequently so warp the minds of good men, 
as to lead them into erroneous arguments against both philosophy 
and common sense. 

In the light of these facts we have a right to ask if Prof. Clark 
stands upon impartial ground? Does he write with a mind free 
from all prejudice ? Had not interests and influences, not directly 
bearing upon the question of health, led him to a disbelief in the 
propriety of co-education ? Does he not stand upon what he 
thinks to be sacred college grounds '? Was the stand-point from 
whence he wrote one of true science ? May not his relations 



•with a college that is unwilling to try the experiment of admitting 
females to any of its departments, have stimulated him to write 
as he has ? We cannot answer these questions, perhaps, but we 
can examine his arguments so far as the physiological peculiarities 
of sex are concerned. 

To the masses, the science of physiology is but little known or 
understood. Very few, outside of the medical profession, are at 
all qualified to judge properly of arguments based upon physio- 
logical points or questions. Hence it is very easy to mislead 
the public mind in this direction. 

It is no very difficult thing, in these days of general nervous, 
excitement, to start up physiological bug-bears and hygienic 
scare-crows. Make folks believe that they are physically weak 
and wretchedly situated, and you have planted within them the 
germs of disease. Too much of this is being done at the present 
time, and there is, at least, some reason for fearing that " Sex in 
Education" blows its loudest blast in this direction. 

It is true that physiology has not yet become an exact science. 
Very much of it is still speculative, hence upon many important 
points leading physiologists disagree. Upon this matter of 
sexual differences very much is known, and it seems that Prof. 
Clark has given altogether too much weight to the difference in 
the functions of the generative organs of male and female, while 
at the same time he has underrated other equally important 
points of difference. 

It seems, from the general tenor of " Sex in Education," that 
the particular point which it labors to bring prominently before 
the public is, that the Ovaries have connected with them or their 
functions some peculiar tendency to arrest in development, or 
else some very debilitating effect upon the female system, entirely 
different from anything with which the male has to contend. Is 
this the truth? Let us examine the matter carefully, and see if 
there may not be some error in the Dr.'s reasoning or rather 
assertions. 

That we may the better understand the premises from which 
the argument starts, or upon which it rests, Ave will first ask, 



G 

What are the ovaries, these terrible pests of the female organiza- 
tion ? 

On the 37th page of "Sex in Education," we find the follow- 
ing: "The ovaries, which constitute," says Dr. Dalton, "the 
essential parts of this apparatus, and certain accessory organs, are 
now rapidly developed." "Previously they were inactive." 
" At this period they take on a process of rapid growth and 
development." "No such extraordinary task, calling for such 
rapid expenditure of force," " is imposed upon the male physique 
at the same epoch." 

This is about all Prof. Clark has to say in answer to the ques- 
tion, "What are the ovaries?" And this would most certainly 
lead those ignorant of anatomy to suppose that the male pos- 
sessed nothing in his organization at all analogous to these 
female organs. And the vast importance and rapid growth and 
development would naturally lead those ignorant of the facts in 
the case to suppose that these organs were of pretty good size ; 
as large perhaps as the kidneys or may be the liver. Let us be a 
little more particular in our description of them. 

Prof. Henry Gray, the author of Gray's anatomy, than which 
no more reliable text book is published, answers our question as 
follows : ■* 

'•'•The ovaries are analogous to the testes in the male. They 
are oval-shaped bodies, of an elongated form, flattened from 
above downwards, situated one on each side of the uterus." 
" They are each about one inch and a half in length, three-quarters 
of an inch in width, and about one-third of an inch thick, and 
weigh from one to two drachms." 

"The ovary is invested by peritoneum, excepting along its 
anterior attached margin; beneath this is the proper fibrous 
covering of the organ, which incloses a peculiar soft, fibrous tissue 
or stroma. Imbedded in the meshes of this tissue, are numerous 
small, round, transparent vesicles in various stages of develop- 
ment; they are the Graafian vesicles or ovisacs containing the 
ova."* 

All anatomists give essentially the same description of this 
little organ. By all it is considered analogous to the testicle of 
the male. The peculiar product, which is the ova, is also ana- 
logous to the spermatozoa, the peculiar product of ths testicle. 

*Gruy"s Anatomy, Fifth Edition, page 818. 



In the early stages of development the ovary cannot be dis- 
tinguished from the testicle, and the development and growth of 
both go on almost exactly alike, from the earliest infancy to old 

a ere. 

•~' 

Until the age of puberty the ovum is not susceptible of im- 
pregnation, neither is the spermatozoon capable of impregnating. 
This period of puberty takes place at about the same time of life 
in both male and female, and similar changes of physique and 
generative organs are brought about by it in both sexes. For the 
truth of these assertions we refer to good authority : 

" The essential parts of the generative apparatus, namely, 
the testes in the male and the ovaria in the female, are first 
developed in such immediate proximity with the corpora wolffi- 
ana that they have been supposed 'to sprout forth from them. 
They make their first appearance in the chick as delicate striae on 
the wolffian bodies about the fourth day ; at which period no dif- 
ference can be detected between the testes and ovaria, which 
originate in precisely the same manner."* 

" The power of procreation does not exist in the human male 
before the age of from 14 to 16 years. At this epoch, which is 
ordinarily designated as that of puberty, a considerable change 
takes place in the bodily constitution. The sexual organs undergo 
a much increased development ; various parts of the surface, 
especially the" chin and pubes, become covered with hair; the 
larynx enlarges and the voice becomes lower in pitch, as well 
as rougher and more powerful ; and new feelings and desires are 
awakened in the mind. Instances, however, are by no means 
rare in which these changes occur at a much earlier period." f 

" In the human female, the period of puberty, or commencing 
aptitude for procreation, is usually between the thirteenth and 
sixteenth years; it is generally thought to be somewhat earlier in 
warm climates than in cold, and in densely populated manufac- 
turing towns than in thinly-peopled agricultural districts. The 
mental and bodily habits of the individual have also considerable 
influence upon the time of its occurrence ; girls brought up in the 
midst of luxury and sensual indulgence, undergoing this change 
earlier than those reared in hardihood and self-denial. The 
changes in which puberty consists, are for the most part con- 
nected with the reproductive system. The external and internal 
organs of generation undergo a considerable increase of size; the 
mammary glands enlarge and a deposition of fat takes place in 
the mammae and on the pubes, as well as over the whole surface 



♦Carpenter's Human Physiology, Page 800. 
t Same, page 751. 



of the body, giving to the person that roundness and fullness 
which are so attractive to the opposite sex at the period of com- 
mencing womanhood."* 

From this, and much more of a similar character that is found 
in other Works on anatomy and physiology, it seems evident that 
there is really no great difference in the change that takes place 
at the age of puberty in the male and female. In both sexes 
this change is of equal importance, and the ovary is of no more 
consequence to the female than the testicle is to the male, and 
needs no more care. 

In regard to the assertions made by Prof. Clark, that prior to 
puberty the ovaries merely exist in a germinal form of complete 
inactivity, there seems to be good reason for a contrary opinion. 
We might just as well say that the testicle existed only in this 
condition. The fact is, that both are constantly growing, devel- 
oping and being fitted for their special functions of generation, 
from early infancy to the period of puberty, at which time they 
are capable of producing their ripened fruit, the ova and sperma- 
tozoa. Let us hear what Prof. Gray says upon this subject : 

"The formation, development and maturation of the Graafian 
vesicles and ova, continue uninterruptedly from infancy to the 
end of the fruitful period of woman's life. Before puberty the 
ovaries are small ; the Graafian vesicles contained in them minute 
and few in number; and few probably ever attain full develop- 
ment." t 

We might with the same propriety and truthfulness say, that 
the bud of the tree or plant existed in a state of inactivity from 
its first appearance to the time of its blossoming, as to assert 
that the ovaries do so from infancy to puberty. 

These facts being admitted, it is difficult to understand why 
the ovaries should, so disable the female as to render it necessary 
for her to consider herself an invalid one-fourth of the time 
(luring her most useful days, while the testes, whose development, 
activity and usefulness bear such an exact resemblance to them, 
are so entirely ignored as not to be worth mentioning. 

Menstruation is not a pathological act of the female system; it 



*■ Carpenter's Human Physiology, page 755. 
t Gray's Anatomy, page 810. 



is purely physiological in its nature, an indication of health and 
womanhood, just as an occasional seminal discharge from the 
male organs of generation, after the period of puberty arrives, is 
a physiological act indicating health and manhood. Both are 
accompanied by some unusual excitement, and followed by a 
corresponding depression, but by no means of such a serious 
character as to make one an invalid. 

Both the function of the ovary and testicle is liable to become 
deranged, like the functions of all other organs in the system. 
As a rule, like causes will produce similar troubles in both male 
and female. Unnatural stimulation will produce disease; and 
this is probably one of the most common causes in both sexes, 
more practiced, we are inclined to think, by males than by females. 

It does not seem at all reasonable to believe that a regular course 
of study would be any more likely to bring on a pathological 
condition of these organs, than of the respiratory, circulatory or 
digestive organs. Other things being equal, there are good 
physiological reasons for believing that the female organization 
would stand mental labor and a sedentary life better even than 
the male. The nervous system of the female is more sensitive and 
quicker to receive impressions ; while the osseous and muscular 
are smaller, and not designed for so much physical exercise. Hence 
it would seem that our present school system is more especially 
a girls' system than a boys', and, if either have reason to complain, 
it is the latter. Boys and men seem to be designed by nature for 
great physical exercise, for knocking about and laboring in the 
out-door air, while the girls and women seem better calculated 
for a more quiet in-door life. At any rate there is no good reason 
that can be drawn from physiology for calling our schools " boys' 
schools." 

The Professor's argument, drawn from Comparative Physiology, 
is very " far-fetched " and quite ludicrous ; still we are inclined 
to think he did the best he could in that direction. Let us 
examine it a bit, and then bring out a little of the actual knowl- 
edge that may properly be drawn from this source. 

"The lily is not inferior to the rose, nor the oak superior to 
the clover; yet the glory of the lily is one and the glory of the 
2 



10 

oak is another ; and the use of the oak is not the use of the 
clover. That is poor horticulture which would train them all 
alike." * 

Is this difference in the herbs of the field and the trees of the 

forest, that calls for different training, dependent upon sex? 

No one pretends that men and Avomen, boys and girls should 
be trained like oxen and cows, or geese and ducks. The glory 
of man is one and the glory of the ox is another, and the use of 
the cow is not the use of the duck. But this is no evidence that 
sex has anything to do with their mental training. We learn 
from comparative physiology that, in many species of plants and 
trees, the male and female are as entirely separate and independ- 
ent of each other as they are in the higher species of animals. 
Would the doctor deem it necessary to cultivate the male and 
female willow or poplar, or hemp plant differently on account of 
their sex? 

Through the whole range of Comparative Physiology we fail 
to find any very marked difference in the modes of life of the 
male and female, except during the periods of fecundation and 
nursing; notwithstanding the sex can readily be distinguished in 
many of the species by the difference in their looks. The anal- 
ogous organs, ovaries and testes, are found in all the higher 
animals, and their functions correspond to those of the human 
species. 

"The development of the ovum, like that of the spermatic 
cells, sometimes takes place in the parenchyma of the germ- 
preparing organs or ovaries, sometimes within their cavity. In 
many of the lower animals, the testes and ovaries bear such a close 
resemblance to each other as to be quite undistinguishable, and the 
same is the case in the early condition of the generative apparatus 
even of man. Like the augmented development of the contents 
of the spermatic organs, that of the ovaries is generally periodical. 
A large number of ova in most of the lower tribes of animals are 
advancing towards maturity at the same period, and they are 
discharged either simultaneously or successively; after which 
the ovarium relapses into the previous inactivity. In the human 
female, however, and in that of many domesticated animals, the ' 
difference between these two states is much less marked ; and, • 
although the complete maturation of the ova and their escape 



* Sex in Education, page 15. 



11 

from the ovary may only take place at particular intervals, yet 
there appears to be a continual advance towards that maturation, 
even during the earlier periods of life." * 

"The menstrual epochs of the human female correspond with 
the periods of oestruation in the lower animals. Their general 
resemblance to these periods is too evident to require demonstra- 
tion." " The periods of oestruation, furthermore, in many of the 
lower animals, are accompanied with, an unusual discharge from 
the generative passages ; and this discharge is frequently more 
or less tinged with blood." "In the human female the bloody 
discharge is more abundant than in other instances, but it is 
evidently a phenomenon differing only in degree from that which 
shows itself in many species of animals." f 

" There is good reason to believe that in the human female 
the sexual feeling becomes stronger at the period of menstrua- 
tion." f~ 

Now it does not seem natural for this to be the case, if, during 
these periods, the female is physically disabled. 

Observation and experience has taught most of us that, during 
the periods of oestruation or heat, the lower animals are naturally 
more active, both physically and mentally, than at other times. 
From this we might reasonably infer that the usual amount of 
activity would not be injurious to the human female during her 
menstrual periods. 

But Prof. Clark tells us " The system never does two things 
well at the same time." § Of course the Doctor does not mean 
to announce this as a physiological axiom. It would be a new 
and strange one indeed, for we all know very well that the 
health of every one depends upon the system doing a great many 
things well all the time, and at the same time. It must perform 
the circulatory function, the respiratory function, the digestive 
function, and many other things well all the time, in order to 
keep the system in the best condition. The muscular system 
cannot indeed act to any great extent without the action of the 
nervous. The mind, through the action of the nerve-centers, 
guides and directs us in all we do voluntarily. The more perfect 



* Carpenter's Comparative Physiology, page 531. 
tDalton's Human Physiology, page 5G0 (18G7). 
t Carpenter's Human Physiology, page 750. 
§ Sex in Education, page 40. 



12 

our actions, the more perfect must be the action of the ner\ 
system to control them. 

Extraordinary work of various kinds cannot he well done at 
the same time by the system without injury. If we over-work 
any part or apparatus we injure the whole system, and if we 
persist in so doing we soon produce functional derangements, 
soon followed by actual organic disease. Too much study of any 
kind, with too little physical exercise, is bad. It is the over-work 
of the nervous system and the lack of muscular exercise that is 
producing so much general debility among us. It is for this 
reason, largely, that our present system of " Girls' Schools " is so 
objectionable. It is a proper exercise of all parts, under proper 
hygienic conditions, that is so much needed by all classes, males 
as well as females, in these times of mental excitement and 
physical debility. 

Dr. Clark admits, on page 17 of " Sex in Education," the truth 
of what Gail Hamilton says, viz : " A girl can go to school, pursue 
all the studies which Dr. Todd enumerates, except ad infinitum/ 
know them not so well as a chemist knows chemistry, or a botanist 
botany, but as well as they are known by boys of her age and 
training, as well, indeed, as they are known by many college- 
taught men, enough at least to be a solace and a resource to her ;, 
then graduate before she is eighteen, and come out of school as 
healthy, as fresh, as eager, as she went in. " But " (he says), " it is 
not true that she can do all this and retain uninjured health and 
a future secure from neuralgia, uterine disease, hysteria and other 
derangements of the nervous system, if she follows the same 
method that boys are trained in." 

Some might reasonably infer from this that Gail Hamilton, or 
somebody else, had attempted to prove that such a course of study 
and training as here spoken of would prove a safeguard to the 
female; a sure preventive of all the ills that flesh is heir to 
through the remainder of her life. 

We are not, however, aware that any such an attempt has ever 
been made by any one. Such a course of study has a tendency to 
throw the system out of its proper equilibrium, and, in a large 
majority of cases, muscular debility and various forms of nervous 



13 

disease are generated by it, quite as frequently in the male as in 
the female. 

Are not our young men constantly breaking down in our 
educational institutions? Do not male graduates ever suffer in 
after life from nervous diseases ? Oh yes ! sad though it may be 
for us poor frail mortals to acknowledge it, yet we might just as 
well own up to the fact that disease is on our track. Even the 
generative organs of the male are not always in a normal condi- 
tion. 

On the other hand, these diseases are by no means confined to 
students, either male or female. They are met with in all depart- 
ments of life, particularly where sedentary habits are followed. 
Bad air, poor food, improper dressing and late hours, care, anxiety 
and trouble of mind, are the chief causes. 

" There have been instances, and I have seen such, (says Prof. 
Clark) of females in whom the special mechanism we are speaking 
of remained germinal, undeveloped. They graduated from school 
or college excellent scholars but with undeveloped ovaries." * 

Now, we will not say that the Doctor has not seen such cases. 
We have no doubt but that he has had cases that he supposed 
to be of this kind. All medical writers, however, that we have 
been able to consult, speak of such cases as being very rare, and 
un distinguishable except by post-mortem examination. The 
ovaries, one or both of them, are sometimes absent as well as 
undeveloped. But such conditions of the ovaries are no more- 
frequent than similar conditions of the testes in the male. 
When these abnormal conditions do exist, they are usually 
accompanied by congenital deformities of other parts of the gen- 
erative system, and the girl retains her general girlish appearance 
through advanced womanhood, in mental as well as in physical 
qualities. The following is taken from reports of two cases seen 
by Prof. T. G. Thomas, author of a recent valuable work on 
Diseases of Women. 

1st. " She is twenty-four years of age, and yet has the appear- 
ance of a girl of thirteen. Indeed, it is difficult to believe the 



*Sex in Education, page 39. 



14 

statement that she is more than that age. The features, limbs, 
mode of expression and general deportment are those of a child. 

Case 2. "The patient is eighteen years old, and has never 
menstruated; has suffered from epileptic seizures, which have 
evidently impaired the force of her intellect. 

"The girl is slow in her movements, childish in manner and 
stupid in replying to questions."* 

No cause is spoken of in this work for either of the cases. 

Sir J. Y. Simpson, in his late work, says nothing upon this 
subject whatever, neither do Hodge, Hewitt, Ashwell or Wells. 
West speaks of it much as Thomas does. It is quite evident, 
therefore, that undeveloped ovaries is a very rare trouble with 
females, and from the cases reported we have no reason for 
supposing that identical co-education acts as a cause of it. And 
furthermore, the continued childishness of those cases where it 
has been found to exist, would seem to render it quite improbable 
that a high degree of literary attainments would be reached by 
such. The most perfect development of the whole, demands 
that of every part. 

There are many causes of sterility, and it is by no means 
confined to the female. It is not always certain that a wife is 
sterile because she does not bear children. The generative 
organs of the husband may be in some way incapable of produc- 
ing the sperm-cell. The most frequent cause of this condition 
in the woman is found connected with the womb ; such as mal- 
positions, irritation, &c, none of which are brought on by literary 
pursuits ; and so it is in cases of ovarian disease and menstrual 
irregularities; other causes than those of regular study bring 
them on. No doubt many women take advantage of what they 
learn nowadays, by using various means, some of which are quite 
sure to produce disease, for preventing conception taking place 
too soon, as they say, after marriage. v When the question of 
co-education in our colleges was first brought before the public, 
the great objection urged against it seemed to be of a moral 
character. It was thought by many very good persons, particu- 
larly those having the management of these institutions, that the 
moral standing of the students would be lowered in some way 



* Thomas on tlie Diseases of Women, page 523. 



15 

by allowing females to enter the recitation rooms, and there 
exert their influence. But a little experience upon this point 
has taught just what the advocates of this liberal system believed 
it would, the utter groundlessness of these objections. 

The friendly co-mingling of the sexes in the high and laudable 
pursuit of literal)- attainments, is one of ;che most ennobling and 
elevating occupations of .life. It strengthens the confidence of 
the female and enables her to depend upon herself, while it 
knocks off the rough, disagreeable corners of the male character, 
and gives it a better appearance to the world. All nature follows 
this course in her training of male and female, from the lowest 
vegetable to the highest species of the animal kingdom. Psy- 
chology as well physiology justifies the making of this assertion. 
It may not be amiss to say a few words about the Doctor's 
clinical reports ; not that there is anything peculiar in them, for 
they do not differ materially from thousands of reports found in 
medical works upon diseases of females, except in the one 
particular of attributing their cause to co-education, or regular, 
continuous study. 

There is one important point, however, of which he does not 
speak, that no doubt most practicing physicians have not failed 
to observe ; and in connection with this argument it is of very 
great importance. It is this : Analogous cases of physical debility, 
disease and death from similar causes, are quite as frequently met 
with in males as in females. How frequently we hear of young 
men who are obliged to leave school or college on account of ill 
health. Thousands of such cases are reported, and every year 
adds fearfully to the list. How often we feel it our duty to recom- 
mend a discontinuation of study, and a more natural out-door 
life to young men in high schools and colleges. It ought not, 
therefore, to be considered strange, that young ladies subjected 
to similar causes should be afflicted in a like manner. How 
common indeed, it is for physicians to be consulted by male 
students, who think themselves sick on account of what they 
suppose to be an abnormal action of the generative organs. We 
might report many cases occurring in males, equally as serious 
as those of females reported by Prof. Clark, but we should hardly 



16 

feel justified in denouncing the common school system on account 
of them. 

These facts being known, the Doctor's clinical argument 
amounts to nothing against the co-education of the sexes. 

Tli ere are, of course, many good things in the Doctor's book. 
But the particular point for which he seems to have written it is 
evidently a mere scare-crnw, much better calculated to frighten 
anxious mothers and timid, fidgety young ladies, than to impart to 
the public correct physiological laws. There is really no par- 
ticular difference in the development of boys and girls, neither 
do sexual peculiarities amount to much to the unmarried. 

Let us now look at the bearing of the subject from a psycho- 
logical standpoint. 

The mind, so far as we know it, is a manifestation of brain 
action, caused by impressions conveyed to the cellular matter of 
the brain, either from objects outside the body through the special 
senses, or from the different parts of the body itself through what 
is sometimes called the internal sense, that sense by which we 
are made aware that something is going wrong with our physical 
machinery. The mind is in a normal, healthy condition when all 
the functions of the body are physiologically performed, pro- 
viding it receives no disturbing and deranging impressions from 
without. But through the special senses, working in a perfectly 
physiological manner, injurious impressions may be received, 
which may so derange the action of the brain as to produce in 
the mind a firm belief that the body is sorely diseased. Thus, in 
many instances, the mind becomes abnormal from a purely func- 
tional derangement of the brain. Now this mental derangement 
reacts upon all the physical functions to a greater or less extent 
according to degree of intensity. In this way fright sometimes 
takes one's strength all away, and may even cause death. The 
sight of blood causes fainting in some cases, and the smell of 
certain things may produce nausea and vomiting. Fear undoubt- 
edly renders the system more susceptible to epidemic influences. 
It is reported, on good authority, that many persons have died 
from fright when malignant, contagious diseases, such as yellow 
fever or Asiatic cholera, were raging about them. In a similar 



17 



way, many nervous diseases, such as hysteria, gaping and the 
various forms of what is called hy our spiritual friends medium- 
ship, seems to be contagious. 

Every physician knows, or should know, the power of impres- 
sion al influences upon the mind of his patient. No organ in the 
human body is half so liable to functional derangement as the 
organ of the mind. And functional derangement of no other 
organ reacts upon the general system with anything like the 
force of the brain. All these functional derangements of this 
organ, resulting from impressions received through the special 
senses, are usually called imaginary. They are, however, depend- 
ent upon abnormal nerve action, and are, therefore, just as real 
as though they were caused by functional derangements of the 
body itself, producing like impressions upon the brain matter. 
There is this difference, however, that in the one case the cause 
is best removed by counter-influences conveyed to the brain 
through the special senses ; in the other by remedies taken into 
the system. 

A rule, perhaps as universal as any can be, applying to the 
physical condition of the human species is, that whatever gives 
joy and lasting pleasure is conductive to health, while grief, 
regrets and disappointments invite disease. 

Hence the great importance of cheerfulness, of cultivating a 
disposition of contentment and reconciliation, of looking upon 
the bright side of life, and of believing that there is more good 
than evil in the world, and more joy than sorrow in store for us 
here in this life, for " as a man thinketh so is he." 

In the light of these truths, what will probably be the effect of 
Dr. Clark's theory of invalidism upon young ladies who believe 
it? Is it an encouraging theory ? Will its belief be cheering 
and tend to make life more joyful? Or has it rather a gloomy 
outlook, a depressing effect, a disease-generating tendency. I 
l-eally believe that the general advocacy of this theory by a few 
of the leading physicians of the country, would increase the 
nervous derangements and functional diseases of female students 
twenty-five per cent, in the next ten years. 
3 



18 






I will briefly refer to two parallel cases in the history of 
medicine, the consideration of which has led me to this belief. 

Some thirty years ago the subject of spermatorrhoea, invol- 
untary seminal discharges and nocturnal emissions, was brought 
prominently before the profession by a few French and English 
physicians. In due time a book was written and published upon 
the subject by Lallemand, a French surgeon of some note. A 
very large proportion of the diseases to which male flesh is heir 
was attributed to this condition of things. A sexual peculiarity 
of organization, which, according to this theory, rendered the 
young man wonderfully liable to invalidism, just as, according to 
Dr. Clark, the menstrual periods affect the female. 

What was the result of this new departure from medical 
science? Why, a small army of specialists, a large majority of 
whom were ignorant charlatans, having just sufficient knowledge 
to understand that nocturnal emissions were universal occur- 
rences, flooded the countries with little books and newspaper 
notices upon this, to them all important, subject, because their 
financial prosperity depended upon it. From the reading of 
these books and notices a very large army of imaginary invalids 
sprang forth from the ranks of robust, healthy young men, to be 
duped and cheated by these pretenders; and, in no small number 
of instances, actually were made invalids by the miserable system 
of drugging recommended. 

Away back in the days of Hippocrates, 400 b. c, we have 
reliable historical evidence that it was known that the female of 
the human species had a little pear-shaped, hollow organ, the size 
of a turkey's egg, situated near the centre of the pelvic cavity, 
at the top of the vagina, midway between the ovaries, which was 
peculiar to her ; that is, no such organ was found in the male. 
It was noticed that it had a peculiar function to perform, a very 
important function, too. It was then considered a very necessary 
and quite inoffensive organ if let alone ; no more frequently 
dieased than other organs of the human body. This organ was 
then and is still called the womb, or uterus. 

Even in the time of Moses, 1500 b. c, it is supposed that the 
more intelligent part of the community in which he lived, knew 



19 

something about this little organ. Weapons were very early 
invented with which to attack disease should it dare to enter 
this sanctum sanctorum of future generations. 

From these early times, down to the beginning of the present 
century, this little organ behaved very well, and appears to have 
been t rented kindly. But, at the beginning of the present century, 
a few French and English physicians began to write up this 
special gift of the female, and a little before the middle of the 
century had arrived, J. H. Bennet, M. D., of London, wrote and 
had published a book upon its diseases. Similar results to 
females followed the publication of this book, as followed the 
publication of Lallemand's book on Spermatorrhoea to males. 
An army of specialists sprang up, good, bad and indifferent ; little 
books and newspaper notices were circulated broad-cast among 
young and old, and uterine disease increased in the imagination 
to such an alarming extent, that it seemed quite uncertain 
whether or no all our female population was not destined to fill 
uterine graves, or graves prematurely entered oh account of 
uterine disease. Such a tremendous effect have the frightful 
accounts of uterine disease produced upon the imagination of 
our women, that it is really quite a pleasure to meet a female 
in the middle period of life, who is not laboring under a depressing 
fear that she either already has, or will have, some form of female 
complaint. This little organ, the womb, has been attacked upon 
the inside and the outside, by sound and syringe, tent and pessary, 
speculum and caustic, and so bravely has it fought against all 
these enemies of its peace and life, that it has almost lost its 
former reputation of innocence and usefulness. 

Thus do impressions from without influence the human brain, 
and i*ender the mind abnormal in its actions upon the body. 
And there can be little doubt but that " Sex in Education," 
emanating as it does from such high authority, will greatly in- 
crease the invalidism of our already feeble and nervous young 
ladies, and probably bring into the broad field of medicine a 
new army of specialists, armed with their never-failing remedies 
for full and perfect development of the ovaries of all females that 
are being educated in the "Boys' Schools." 



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